<p>Ok, so here's the story. My cousin received scholarship money totaling roughly $120,000, which is more than enough to pay for tuition and housing for all four years. He even got a laptop stipend and early registration and all that. Before that, he worked all throughout high school and has a good chunk of money saved up for a college kid. He's essentially going to school at no cost to his parents whatsoever. </p>
<p>To reward him, his dad's buying him a brand new BMW 335i. Would you say that he deserves it or his dad is just spoiling him?</p>
<p>Yeah I think it might be a little spoiled. But if it’s your uncle’s only kid then I can see why he might be getting extra gifts. I won a scholarship worth $120,000 too. But since I still have 3 more siblings to go to college, my parents took me out to eat and bought me a new laptop (and a car next year :)</p>
<p>I think his dad is very dumb. Cars are stolen off of college campuses all the time. Parking is very tight and hard to get close to your dorm. Very expensive car insurance for such a young person and such an expensive car. Let the kid prove his worth and give it to him after college graduation. I have seen way too many smart kids crash in burn in college.</p>
<p>Wow, lucky. But I too think it’s a little spoiled, even though he’s apparently done well all through school. I think the fact that it’s a BMW is the tipping point; also, point well taken about how cars get stolen from campuses way too often, and the fact that it’s a Beamer only adds to the enticement of theft, obviously.</p>
<p>@ momof3greatgirls “I have seen way too many smart kids crash and burn in college”</p>
<p>Never mind college – Martin Sheen reportedly bought Charlie a Mercedes the day he (Charlie) got his license. We all know how well that reward turned out.</p>
<p>Makes me think Emilio must’ve gotten a Datsun or something. ;)</p>
<p>Wow, I want your (quite spoiled) cousin’s life.</p>
<p>He could get a better car. 3-series are sorta ehhh</p>
<p>I think that it is spoiled, honestly. I come from a Greek family and our traditions are slightly different when it comes to giving things of monetary value. My family has actually never passed down anything, that anyone has ever owned. While I do not think that that is the way to go, I do think that it is a valuable lesson. </p>
<p>Both my Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were quite wealthy men, but instead of leaving behind money, cars, or any possessions, they left behind their thoughts and lessons on acquiring wealth. My Dad, too, was not hurting for money at all up until recently. I think that it is better to teach someone the philosophies of life, then to hand them everything. I’ve had to work for everything I’ve got, drive old cars, wear old clothes, shoes… but it’s made me more determined and dedicated to actually achieve my purpose, then to just receive possessions.</p>
<p>The kid’s not spoiled. The dad’s a fool.</p>
<p>I don’t think one can make an accurate judgment (and I’m not sure why we’re judging these people in the first place) without a fuller understanding of this particular family’s values and background.</p>
<p>I don’t think that it’s spoiling him. Some children just naturally remain un-spoiled, no matter how much the parents try. If your cousin acts like a brat about it, then that’s different. But if his dad just thought it would be a nice gift, then it’s just that- a nice gift.</p>
<p>Furthermore, a lot of how much kids are spoiled depends on what the parents have to pay. If the parents are going above their means by giving the kid a car, then YES, they are spoiling him. If they make so much money that they’ve nothing else to do with it, then they’re not spoiling him, they’re just indulging him. I mean, it’s better than letting it sit around, right? </p>
<p>It pays to be rich. That’s the truth of life.</p>
<p>It’s a car, it’s not like he was given 40 grand to spend on booze, coke, and hookers. Some of you just seem pretty jealous.</p>
<p>Maybe the father doesn’t want to deal with his kid asking for money for some 500 dollar '84 Buick every time it breaks down. Also, its a BMW, not a Porsche 911. I’m sure none of you would care if he was bought a new civic.</p>
<p>Not at all,
He worked for that scholarship;</p>
<p>He had a job;</p>
<p>It’s only fair that his parents give him a nice present; they are still saving a whole bunch of money because their son worked hard during his teenage years.</p>
<p>I don’t consider him spoiled. I just consider him fortunate. In my opinion, spoiled means receiving money, items, etc., without acknowledging and/or appreciating the work required to make that money or attain those items.</p>
<p>Think about it this way: If you consider every child who receives a new BMW spoiled, but don’t consider a child who receives an old, beat-up Honda spoiled, then that results in an unfair characterization. Children who come from rich families, whose parents can afford to buy them new, expensive cars, will always be considered spoiled. And children who come from low-income/middle-income families, whose parents can only afford used cars, will almost always be classified as “not spoiled.”</p>
<p>P.S. - I come from a low-income family, and I have witnessed spoiled kids from low, middle, and upper-income families.</p>
<p>NO NOT AT ALL!! :p</p>
<p>Everyone who thinks so is just jealous!!</p>
<p>Yes, yes I would. There are far better uses for such wealth than getting a fancy car. You can get a safe vehicle for a fraction of the price, minus the unnecessary luxury.</p>